hey guys my coolant gauge light just came on and im realy worried that if I continue to drive it im going to over heat!!! the crappy part of the situation is its the dummy light not an actual guage so I cannot tell exactly what temp it is its my daily commuter 87 Jeep Cherokee AND I GOT TOO GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING!!!! cHECKS I HAVE DONE are as following no coolant leaks, fluid is at the minimum mark,clutch fan is working,radiator is approximately 2 yrs old along with clutch fan,new resivour for coolant new cap I don't know what else to say Please Help Thanks guys

 

You need to verify the temp with an I.R. temp gauge pointed at the t-stat housing. How old is the water pump? it can also be a bad t-stat, plunged radiator. Or just need a complete cooling system flush.

 

If the light is "ON" the engine is overheating. Why isn't the coolant at the "Full Hot" mark?

 

ok well I just popped the hood noticed that a vacuum line was off! but before I noticed I fired it up to see if the light was still on. light was not on? while looking around with the flash light and listening to the sound of the motor I heard an air leak that's when I noticed one of my vacuum lines was off!!! would that cause it to throw the dummy light on jus curious? I have no Temp Gauge Reader im actually at my moms house debating on whether or not I should get a tow to prevent damage! and no I have not changed water pump I did check for circulation in the reservoir and their was circulation! Thanks for your quick response very much appreciated any other suggestions would help

 

good question Turbo what would that indicate? bad water pump?

 

Fan shroud intact/in place? Efan working? The cooling system components that "have not" been recently replaced are always suspect. Could be a faulty light and the motor is not overheating thus coolant level in the bottle remaining normal. As mentioned, need to verify overheating. Usually a overheated motor smells different....is that the case when the light is on? Carry extra jugs of water with u 'til u find the problem and correct it.

 

rugarwallce, you must be Clark Kent to be able to hear a vacuum leak over the rattle of the 4.0